PETITION THIS FEST • CLICK HERE to be counted as an anonymous
"petition" – encouraging this event to "evolutionize" its
submission process.

NARRATIVE FEATURE films are dramatic, live-action and animated stories, 41-mins. or longer, from Canada and around the world. We're looking for films that engage, enlighten and entertain in ALL genres. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2015 and be an EDMONTON Premiere at festival time.

Documentary filmmaking continues to grow in popularity, and our audiences love 'em. We're looking for live-action and animated documentaries that are passionate, provocative, life-affirming - in other words, films that get audiences talking! Films must have been completed after January 1, 2015 and be an EDMONTON Premiere at festival time.

Past festival favorites include: GLEN CAMPBELL: I'LL BE ME (dir: James Keach), SOUL ON ICE (dir: Damon Kwame Mason), THE GOOD SON (dir: Jesse James Miller), SPINNING PLATES (dir: Joseph Levy), ANVIL: THE STORY OF ANVIL (dir: Sacha Gervasi), MUSCLE SHOALS (dir: Greg 'Freddy' Camilier), MUSIC FROM THE BIG HOUSE (dir: Bruce MacDonald) and A FILM ABOUT KIDS AND MUSIC (dir: Ramon Tort).

WE LOVE SHORT FILMS! LOVE 'EM! And we're looking for stories that inspire, engage and entertain. Selected films will showcase 'excellence in storytelling'. We accept short, live action films in all genres, including (but not limited to): family, comedy, thriller, spoken word/poetry, film noir, western, anything to do with SNOW and FOOD... the list goes on. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2015 and be an EDMONTON Premiere at festival time.

As an ACADEMY AWARDS® Qualifying Festival (Short Films), winners of the BEST Live Action (Dramatic) & Animated Short Film categories will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short film/Live Action Short Film category of the ACADEMY AWARDS® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

WE LOVE SHORTS! We mean that. Animated Shorts must be 40-minutes or less. We are looking for all kinds of fascinating stories that teach us, motivate us, or take us to a place (in mind, or in body) that we might never have gone. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2015 and be an EDMONTON Premiere at festival time.

As an ACADEMY AWARDS® Qualifying Festival (Short Films), winner of the BEST Animated Short Film category will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film category of the ACADEMY AWARDS® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

We are looking for all kinds of fascinating documentary stories that teach us, motivate us, make us LAUGH! and/or CRY!, or show us a new perspective on the world. Films must have been completed after January 1, 2015 and be an EDMONTON Premiere at festival time.

Over the years we’ve programmed compelling short documentaries such as GOOD KARMA $1, ALL AMERICAN FAMILY, SIMPLY ROB, I AM GIRL... films that stay with us no matter how much time goes by.

MISSION & OBJECTIVE

The Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF)... international, independent and eye-opening. Our 10-day festival is committed to showcasing contemporary, independent films -- all lengths, all genres and from everywhere in the world! -- that will enlighten, entertain and empower our audiences. We look for films that make us better people, that make us want to talk about the experience afterwards -- films with soul. This festival is about FILMS and the people who MAKE them!

We are a filmMAKER festival -- produced by filmmakers, programmed by filmmakers. Our theatres are professionally equipped and managed. We do everything possible to have your Picasso projected the way you intended it to be experienced! And we are committed to ARTIST REMUNERATION – filmmakers whose ‘cinematic baby’ becomes an ‘official selection’ of EIFF will receive a cheque (the amount is based on film length), in November. Please refer to ARTIST REMUNERATION in the complete RULES & REGULATIONS for more information.

Submit NOW and become a part of Alberta's ORIGINAL International film festival!

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Just a couple of hours from the majestic Rocky Mountains, Edmonton is THE heart of the Canadian Prairies, the largest northern city in North America and home to the Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF). Six months out of the year, we are buried under snow -- making us the top movie-going audience in the country!

And each autumn, we hoist the curtains on a 10-day cinematic feast that celebrates the power of film. The menu consists of more than 150 films from 40 countries, ranging from short to feature-length, dramatic to documentary, comedy to gut-wrenching and studio to independent.

The films we look for are: WORLD CINEMA, DOCUMENTARIES of all kinds, COMEDY, DANCE, CHILDREN/FAMILY, EDGE of NIGHT (movies that make you squirm), films by ALBERTANS, SHORTS, stories that feature SNOW, MUSIC, SPOKEN WORD/POETRY and anything to do with FOOD or food culture.

The ONLY hard and fast rules for submissions are:
1) Production Dates. To be considered 'contemporary', films must have locked picture and sound AFTER January 1, 2015.
2) Premier Status. EIFF requires that films be an EDMONTON PREMIERE (at minimum). This means no public screenings to Edmonton audiences prior to festival dates -- September 29 to October 8, 2016.
3) Broadcast & Pay-Per-View. Projects that are available to Canadian audiences on television or on subscription services such as Netflix are NOT eligible to screen at EIFF.

ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL. We invite as many filmmakers -- shorts and features – as our budget affords and offer complimentary Hotel, airport shuttles, festival passes and single tickets to your film screenings.

At the end of the day, once the curtains close for the final time each year -- EIFF is about the POWER OF FILM! And how it brings us all together in a way that only ART can. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Submit NOW and become a part of Alberta's longest running international film festival.

GENERAL RULES

LENGTH: Submissions may be fiction, documentary, or animation and each category is length-specific.

CATEGORIES: If your film is a better 'fit' in a category OTHER than the one you submitted to, or if you submitted to the incorrect category, we will automatically ensure your 'cinematic baby' is moved to the proper category. Don't stress!

EIFF is an ACADEMY AWARDS® Qualifying Festival... This means that the films which win our BEST ANIMATED SHORT and BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT are eligible for OSCAR® consideration, without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

GENRES: Whatever the genre, we're looking for films with strong story lines. Movies that make you question your own values; move you in some mysterious way; or make you laugh out loud.

COPYRIGHT: Filmmaker is responsible for securing all copyright clearances and music rights.

WHERE IN THE WORLD? Wherever you are on the globe, we're interested in your cinematic story. Canada is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world and, as a city, Edmonton is rich with an incredible variety of peoples.

SUBMIT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! Submitting early not only allows more time for consideration, but also guarantees you won’t miss the final deadline. No late submissions will be considered at all. Seriously!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All deadlines are POSTMARKED by dates. If the DEADLINE date lands on a weekend or statutory holiday, we accept submissions postmarked on the next business day. Our late submission deadline of MAY 30 allows enough time for selection committees to carefully consider your film, so please don't ask for an extension.

LANGUAGE: All films with non-English dialogue must have English subtitles.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS: We prefer multiple submissions be submitted individually, however we can accommodate compilation DVDs and are able to offer a group submission discount (based on availability).

ENTRY FEES: Entry fees are non-refundable and the fees listed are per entry, in U.S. dollars.

FEE WAIVERS: NO FEE WAIVERS will be considered. Don't e-mail us, don't phone us, don't hunt us down on the streets -- we've worked very hard to create an affordable submission system that offsets a (very) small portion of our costs. Trust us... filmmaker submission fees are not a revenue generator for ANY fest.

WORKS IN PROGRESS: EIFF does not accept trailers or rough assemblies but will accept work-in-progress cuts (picture lock with temp sound, color, etc.). Please be aware that EIFF will not view multiple updates/versions of your film for programming consideration.

PREMIERE/BROADCAST STATUS: Our priority is to program films (of all lengths) that have exclusive, EDMONTON premiere status. A cast & crew screening does not disqualify a film, but preference will be given to premieres.

INELIGIBLE PROJECTS are:
• Broadcast in Canada prior to our festival dates
• Available for purchase in North America

COMPLETION DATE: Priority is given to films completed after January 1, 2015 -- and not previously submitted to EIFF. Films previously submitted to EIFF will ONLY be considered if there are substantial, creative changes to the project.

SUBMISSION FORMAT: For selection purposes, all PREVIEW copies must be submitted on DVD (NTSC or PAL) or by Secure Online Screener (SOS) and be in English, or have English subtitles.

SUBMISSION CONTACT: The submitter shall be either a producer, director or authorized agent of the film. All communication will be sent to the person submitting.

SUBMISSION PACKAGE TO INCLUDE: Please include one (1) DVD (NTSC or PAL). Mark your submission DVD with a permanent marker (please, no stickers… they hurt our machines): Title | Run Time | Contact Information (e-mail address). Include payment only if you have not paid online.

CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT: Submissions will be acknowledged by e-mail (through WITHOUTABOX) upon receipt.

PLEASE. DO NOT SEND: In keeping with our effort to become a carbon neutral festival, we request that you DO NOT SEND press kits, photo stills, or any other publicity materials. We will request these materials at a later date, once your film is accepted.

RETURN of SUBMISSION DVD: If you'd like your preview copy returned, include a self-addressed, stamped mailing package. Screeners will otherwise not be returned.

SELECTION PROCESS: All submissions are screened and evaluated by EIFF Preview and Selection Committees. Their reports and decisions are final and confidential.

PRIZES & AWARDS: Should the jury determine that no film was outstanding in an award category, NO award will be presented. EIFF reserves the right to modify the Cash and Goods/Services prizes as listed in the Categories -- as per sponsorship agreements.

NOTIFICATION: All accepted entrants will be notified on or before AUGUST 15, via e-mail (through WITHOUTABOX). Filmmakers whose films are not selected to screen at EIFF will also be notified by this date through the WITHOUTABOX email system.

TRAVEL/ACCOMMODATIONS for FILMMAKERS: ALL filmmakers are encouraged to attend and we totally wish we could cover everyone’s flight and hotel rooms, but we just don’t have the resources. Damn budgets! We will do our best to provide a complimentary 2-night Hotel stay to attending filmmakers -- features and shorts. If filmmaker decides to attend, and EIFF provides complimentary HOTEL, the screening fee noted above in ARTIST REMUNERATION is WAIVED.

PASSES/TICKETS for FILMMAKERS: Complimentary Festival Passes and single tickets are available to attending filmmakers. Quantities are dependent on film length, category and based on availability. EIFF representatives will communicate this information to filmmakers upon acceptance of film/s.

EXHIBITION FORMAT: Once a film is accepted, every attempt will be made by EIFF organizers to exhibit your film on the preferred exhibition format. However, due to budget and our movie venues, we can only EXHIBIT the following formats:
• FEATURE Films: DCP and BluRay (with NTSC DVD back-up)
• SHORT Films: PAL or NTSC DVD (Regions 0 and 1)

RECEIPT OF EXHIBITION PRINT: To allow for time to test and inspect exhibition copies, EIFF must receive your EXHIBITION copy by:
• SHORT FILMS: August 30
• FEATURE FILMS: September 15

FILMMAKER FEEDBACK: Regrettably, we no longer provide filmmaker feedback as a routine part of our selection and notification process. We will consider E-MAIL (only) requests for feedback on a case by case basis after the festival dates and before November 15.

REPRODUCTION AGREEMENT: Entrant agrees to grant EIFF permission for accepted films and related marketing materials to be reproduced and distributed (in whole or in part) SOLELY for the purposes of jurying and promotion of the Festival.

LOSS and DAMAGE: EIFF will make every attempt to contact you if there is damage to an entry, but cannot be held responsible if your entry is not considered due to poorly recorded or unplayable media. Every precaution will be taken to safeguard all materials submitted while in EIFF’s possession, however we cannot accept or assume responsibility in the event of loss or damage.

SHIPPING (Submission Copies): Do not send masters or irreplaceable formats. Preview copies will not be returned unless a self-addressed, stamped envelope is included with the submission. All shipping charges are the responsibility of the sender.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: The Customs Declaration should state "Festival Submission only - no commercial value". Mark value no higher than $10CDN. The Festival does NOT accept collect shipments or pay customs fees on inbound packages.

SHIPPING (Exhibition Copies): SHIPPING (Exhibition Copies): The cost of shipping the exhibition copy to EIFF must be paid by the entrant or preceding festival and EIFF is responsible for outbound shipping of FEATURE FILMS ONLY. We will return exhibition copies for SHORT FILMS, only when the filmmaker requests this and supplies a postage-paid return envelope.

ACCEPTANCE: Submitting a film to the EIFF and accepting an offer for participation will be considered an approval of the film's copyright holder in accordance with the terms of these Regulations.

PLEASE NOTE: While we make every effort to follow screening times as posted in the festival program guide, EIFF cannot be held accountable for changes to the schedule after festival line-up is announced.

I have read and accepted the General Rules and Regulations for entering a film/video production to the Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF). I fully indemnify and hold EIFFS and its Officers, Directors and representatives harmless from: a) damage to or loss of the film print or videotapes or dvds en route to or from EIFF or during the course of EIFF's possession of the entry; and b) from any claims which may arise in connection with my film.

I own and control the copyright in and to, and am duly authorized to submit this film to the Edmonton International Film Festival (EIFF).

If this film is selected for screening at EIFF, I grant EIFF organizers the right to screen this film at the Festival.

I understand that submitting a film to the EIFF and accepting an offer for participation will be considered an approval of the film's copyright holder in accordance with the terms of these Regulations.

ONCE A FILM HAS BEEN SELECTED AND AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE AT THE EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS ACCEPTED, THE FILMMAKER CANNOT WITHDRAW THEIR FILM FROM THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME.

**EIFF RESERVES THE RIGHT TO WITHDRAW AN “ACCEPTED” ENTRY SHOULD THE FILM AND/OR FILMMAKER FAIL TO MEET ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

I understand and agree that my film entry, if selected for the Festival, may be used for promotional purposes for the EIFF and I grant EIFF organizers approval for:
- a public showing of the film up to 3 times at the Festival
- a public showing of up to a 3-minute maximum of clips from the film in the media, on the EIFF website, at Festival premises, or in multimedia presentations.
- use of film stills in Festival's promotional materials (ie. catalogue, promotional flyers, website and/or multimedia presentations).